Wine Recommendation

Bargetto Winery

2006 Pinot Noir , Reserve(Santa Cruz Mountains)

In contrast to the Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot blend from this same vintage, this single vineyard designate from Bargetto takes it up a notch or two. Winemaker Michael Sones keeps the alcohol under control, despite a harvest Brix of 25.7°. Still made in the lean and clean style of a coastal vineyard, this wine is amply structured and delightfully complex.

From a vineyard near Mount Madonna planted to Dijon clone 777, the 06 Devery Pinot exhibits a complex nose of earth, mushrooms, raspberries and blood oranges. It’s one of those Pinots that has such great acidity that it wakes up your entire mouth from the first sip. Flavors of raspberry, orange marmalade, cranberry iced tea, sassafras and lemon zest dance on your tongue. The flavor progression then goes to strawberry-kiwi jello, with a hint of ginger. This wine is a recipe with lots of pages. The texture is not unlike a chewy apricot bar, and the finish comes back with orange zest and toasted almonds. This is a coastal Pinot with pedigree.

Perfect with fish and shellfish dishes spiced with coriander and citrus zest. Try it with Dover sole oven-baked in vermouth, lemon-pepper and Meyer lemon slices, served over leeks, kohlrabi and cilantro.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Laura Ness

A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Laura Ness

A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth.